Darlene Spinardi Brower
Assistant Artistic Director
Darlene is the assistant artistic director of Ballet Petit. She has been teaching at Ballet Petit since 1987, and teaches students at all levels - from three-year old Twinkle Toes to advanced pre-professional dancers. Just about everyone at Ballet Petit has taken a class from Darlene.
In addition to assisting in the many ballet performances at Ballet Petit, such as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Cinderella, Coppelia, and Sleeping Beauty, Darlene is also credited with the choreography of several original ballets for Ballet Petit's Junior Company. Teaching at Ballet Petit is a dream come true for Darlene because she can share her passion and love of ballet with her students.
Darlene has been dancing herself since she was three years old, and she and Peggy danced together as children at the Oakland Metropolitan Ballet. Darlene has toured with Ballet Celeste and studied at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York. She has studied under many renowned ballet instructors, including Ronn Guidi, Vern Nerden, Suzanne Gibson, Richard Gibson, and Ann Bena.
Joy Gim
Having achieved artistic success in the world of ballet, dancer Joy Gim brings her expertise and joy of dance to aspiring ballet dancers throughout the Bay Area, including right here at Ballet Petit.
As a principle dancer of the Oakland Ballet for 18 years, Ms. Gim danced many lead roles including Myrtha in Giselle; the Other Woman in Jardin Aux Lilas; the Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow and Rose Queens, and Arabian Coffee in The Nutcracker; Zobeide in Scheherazade; the Glove Seller in Gaite Parisienne; and the lead dancer in Nijinska's Bolero. Her other famed moments include appearing as spokesperson for the Oakland Ballet on KTVU Fox Two - Mornings on Two, profiling on ABC 7 - KGO TV's Profiles of Excellence, and modeling for San Francisco Focus Magazine.
Following her retirement from the professional scene in 1998, Ms. Gim has taught many master ballet classes for studios throughout the Bay Area, including Oakland Ballet Academy, Marin Peninsula Ballet, Lamorinda Ballet Center, Vallejo Ballet Conservatory, Shawl/Anderson Dance Center, and most recently, Ballet Petit. She also teaches private lessons and on special request, coaches dancers for specific roles.
Omar Shabazz
Omar began his dance training at Oakland Technical High School with teacher Lauren Manduke in 1987. It was through Oakland Tech's after-school programs that he met Ronn Guidi. And the rest, as the say, is history. Omar danced for the Oakland Ballet until 1997. He performed key roles such as Nephew/Prince, Snow Cavalier, Rose Cavalier, and Sugar Plum Cavalier in The Nutcracker; Paris and Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet, and Blackamoor in Petrouchka.
Omar has been working with the students at Ballet Petit for more than 16 years, teaching partnering classes with his good friend and fellow dancer Ben Barnhardt. He has appeared in Ballet Petit productions of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, and Swan Lake. In January 2003, Omar started teaching a men's ballet class at Ballet Petit, as well as intermediate level classes.
Sharon Yap
Sharon started dancing at the Phil-Am Ballet School in the Philippines when she was just five years old. When she was 9, her family re-located to the San Francisco Bay Area and later enrolled her at the Santa Clara Ballet School. There, she was trained by Josefa Villanueva and the late Benjamin Reyes, both formerly of the San Francisco Ballet. While at the Santa Clara Ballet School, Sharon danced a variety of roles in productions of The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Scuola di Balleto, and Peter and the Wolf.
In high school, Sharon broadened her stage experience by performing with the James Logan Dance Ensemble, and taking part in the school's theater programs, which included such productions as West Side Story and A Chorus Line. In addition, Sharon danced one season with the Santa Clara Vanguard and performed in their rendition of Miss Saigon.
In addition to teaching at Ballet Petit and working as a director for Montessori School of Fremont: Children's House, Sharon regularly contributes to many non-profit organizations such as Ohlone College Foundation, Boy Scouts of America, Rotary Clubs and Business Associations of Fremont. She currently serves as a board member for Fremont's Citizens for Better Community and is an associate board member for the Fremont Education Foundation, and is a founding member of Filipino-American Democratic Club of Alameda County.
Sharon makes incredible artistic contributions to Ballet Petit productions, which she describes as an "obsession with visual effects and projection on stage." Sharon has been teaching at Ballet Petit since 1996.
Nicole Curry
Nicole began dancing at the age of four at Happy Times Nursery School. She received all of her training during her elementary and teen years from Peggy Peabody and Darlene Brower at Ballet Petit. Nicole attended San Francisco Ballet School's summer program and was accepted into their year round school, but decided to remain at Ballet Petit. She attended Boston Ballet School's Summer Program and studied with Sally Streets at Berkeley Ballet Theater.
Nicole received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from San Jose State University in 2002. During this time she performed with the modern dance company, UDT, under the direction of Gary Masters of the Limon Company; and the musical theater company, Company One, at SJSU. At graduation from SJSU, Nicole was awarded Outstanding Senior and was asked to perform her senior solo at the School of Music and Dance's graduation ceremony.
She has appeared in opening acts for several performers in the Bay Area, such as Pink, Mya, 98 Degrees and Nina Skye. She has also been in various trade shows for companies such as Mervyns and Redken, and performed as Velma in the Scooby Doo Show at Paramount's Great America.
In addition to her work at Ballet Petit, Nicole continues to train and choreograph.
Lauren Juan
Lauren started dancing in preschool with Peggy Peabody as her teacher. At the age of seven, Lauren decided to focus strictly on ballet and was dancing en pointe by the age of ten.
Lauren was cast as Clara in Ballet Petit's 1991 production of The Nutcracker. The following summer, she was accepted to a six-week intensive summer study program with the San Francisco Ballet. Lauren was honored when offered the chance to study ballet full time in San Francisco; however she chose to resume her studies at Ballet Petit.
Lauren has enjoyed dancing lead roles in Giselle, Rumpelstiltkin, Coppelia, Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty, Pas de Quatre, and many others.
She danced the coveted role of Sugar Plum Fairy in Ballet Petit's The Nutcracker for three consecutive years. However, her ballet career came to a halt shortly after high school. After surgery on her foot, doctors advised her she could no longer dance. That didn't stop her - it just changed the direction of her dance career. She has completely enjoyed changing from dancer to teacher at Ballet Petit.
In addition to her life at Ballet Petit, Lauren has her degree in English from UC Berkeley and earned her teaching credential from Cal State Hayward. She taught English for a year in Bangkok, Thailand, and is now teaching elementary school in Union City, and currently resides in Pleasanton with her husband, Chris.
Reagan Griffith
Reagan was discovered by the cofounders of Colorado Ballet, Lillian Covillo and Friedan Parker. Shortly after beginning her training in the Vaganova method at 7 years old, Reagan was awarded full merit scholarship. Under the tutelage of Artistic Director Martin Friedman, Reagan began to dance en pointe at the very young age of 8 years. She performed in many ballet productions, such as Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, Les Sylphides, Cinderella and the Nutcracker, dancing leading roles (including Rose Queen, Arabian Princess, Spanish, and Snow). During this time, Reagan also attended both Middle and High Schools for the Performing Arts in Denver, CO.
Reagan was awarded full scholarship to dance at City Ballet in San Francisco, CA with Damara Bennett (former principle dancer with San Francisco Ballet). Reagan was also accepted to study with the Boston Ballet in a summer intensive workshop. Later Reagan went on to study with the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble in Denver CO adding modern and jazz to her dance repertoire.
Reagan has a passion for teaching and choreography and a real love for children. Reagan teaches everything from Parent and Me, creative movement and beginning/intermediate/advanced and adult ballet. Reagan has choreographed for Miramonte High School's theater program in Orinda CA and for Lyric Dance and Vocal ensemble, a traveling dance company. In addition to teaching at Ballet Petit, Reagan teaches dance and theater at Kids N' Dance in Oakland and Layfayette, CA. She also choreographs for Koinonia Praise Dance ministry.
Reagan is thrilled to be joining Ballet Petit. She is currently teaching Ballet Petit's first ever Parent and Me class and a new daytime adult ballet class. She hopes to soon add a Creative Movement class too.
Lillian Kautz
At the age of 8, Lillian saw a production of The Nutcracker and then decided to trade in her soccer cleats for a pair of dance shoes. She began dancing with Miss Peggy at Ballet Petit, and soon the staff recognized her natural artistic talents and strength. Since donning her first pair of dance shoes ten years ago, Lillian has performed as Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Queen, Dew Fairy, and Angel Princess in The Nutcracker; Swanhilda in Coppelia; Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, and Taglioni in Pas de Quatre. In addition, she has danced as an angel and soldier in Oakland Ballet's Nutcracker.
Lillian has earned remarkable opportunities with such professional organizations as American Ballet Theater (ABT), Royal Danish Ballet, and Indiana University. While attending the summer program at Royal Danish Ballet's International Ballet Seminar in Denmark in 2008, Lillian performed at the world-famous Tivoli Garden, and also worked with professionals from Alvin Ailey Dance Company in modern dance and jazz. Following two summers with ABT in Alabama, Lillian studied with ABT in Irvine, CA, in 2009 where she was a soloist in their production of Paquita. She also attended Indiana University's summer choreography seminar.
As a result of these opportunities, Lillian received a special commendation in 2009 from CA Assembly Majority Leader Albert Torrico for outstanding achievement in the arts.
In addition to ballet, Lillian is an accomplished musician in piano and violin, and has experience in video editing. She has been teaching at Ballet Petit for three years. She is currently attending Santa Clara University with a dance scholarship, working towards a double major in dance and communications/film, plus a minor in music. She will be performing with Santa Clara University in there University Productions in ballet and modern.
Leah Dorman
Leah Dorman began dancing at Ballet Petit at the age of 4. Since then she has been in 25 productions by Ballet Petit, playing roles including the wolf from Peter and the Wolf and a stepsister in Cinderella. She generally enjoys portraying the villain rather than the heroine in storytale ballets but endeavors to avoid becoming these characters offstage. She has also choreographed for the Ballet Petit productions Shall We Dance, Elements, A Tribute to Youth, and Seasons.
At the age of 14, Leah began helping out with the twinkle toes class at Ballet Petit. In 2009 she began to substitute teach, and in 2010 became a long-term sub for one of Miss Lillian's classes. Leah greatly enjoys teaching ballet classes due to the unusual ability to focus exhibited by young ballerinas.
In her spare time, Leah studies and tutors biology and chemistry at Ohlone College. She plans to transfer to a UC in the fall of 2013.
Melissa Bass
Bio coming soon.
Niki Segell
Niki started dancing when she was just three years old, and spent her childhood in the dance studio watching her Mom teach ballet. Born in raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Niki trained under Gisela Genschow at Santa Fe Dance Foundation and Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. She also danced in summer programs at Ballet Chicago and North Carolina School of the Arts. In college, Niki performed and choreographed in Albuquerque at the University of New Mexico and also with Ballet Theater New Mexico. Niki has taught everything from creative movement for ages 3-7, beginning/intermediate ballet, and advanced and adult dancers.
Most recently, Niki has moved to San Francisco after living in Monterey for two years, and is enjoying all the wonderful dance opportunities in the city. Beyond the dance studio, Niki has been involved in the arts her entire life, and continues to work in arts administration, event coordinating, and theatre management.
Lauren Juan
Lauren started dancing in preschool with Peggy Peabody as her teacher. At the age of seven, Lauren decided to focus strictly on ballet and was dancing en pointe by the age of ten.
Lauren was cast as Clara in Ballet Petit's 1991 production of The Nutcracker. The following summer, she was accepted to a six-week intensive summer study program with the San Francisco Ballet. Lauren was honored when offered the chance to study ballet full time in San Francisco; however she chose to resume her studies at Ballet Petit.
Lauren has enjoyed dancing lead roles in Giselle, Rumpelstiltkin, Coppelia, Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty, Pas de Quatre, and many others.
She danced the coveted role of Sugar Plum Fairy in Ballet Petit's The Nutcracker for three consecutive years. However, her ballet career came to a halt shortly after high school. After surgery on her foot, doctors advised her she could no longer dance. That didn't stop her - it just changed the direction of her dance career. She has completely enjoyed changing from dancer to teacher at Ballet Petit.
In addition to her life at Ballet Petit, Lauren has her degree in English from UC Berkeley and earned her teaching credential from Cal State Hayward. She taught English for a year in Bangkok, Thailand, and is now teaching elementary school in Union City, and currently resides in Pleasanton with her husband, Chris.
Frederick Gaudette
Frederick began his life as a dancer and artist near his hometown of Salisbury, MA with his first tap class where as he puts it, "They gave me shiny patent leather tap shoes, and for one hour a week let me run around and make as much noise as I could, and I was hooked!"
Frederick then went on to earn his BFA in Dance Performance from Stephens College in Columbia, MO before moving to Seattle to begin his professional career with Spectrum Dance Theater. In his second year with SDT he worked with Donald Byrd and found a new love and understanding of dance, the discipline, intelligence, and energy behind the work itself. Following two years at SDT, he served on the teaching faculty of the Washington Academy of the Performing Arts where he found his love and gift for being "in the front of the studio." From Seattle, he moved to San Francisco to experience the dance and artistic community in the Bay Area.
Locally, Frederick has worked with Ronn Guidi (Oakland Ballet) and of course, Ballet Petit. He strives to make dance available to all those who have a desire to experience, understand, learn, and enjoy the kinetic art that is dance.
Sarah Martin
Sarah began dancing at Ballet Petit when she was just four years old. It was at Ballet Petit that she fell in love with the art and dance, and especially the story-telling aspect that classical ballet encompasses. She graced the stage at Ballet Petit in roles such as Sugar Plum Fairy, Arabian Princess, Rat Queen, and Angel Princess in The Nutcracker, Nikiya in La Bayadere, Cinderella in Cinderella, Myrtha in Giselle, and the lead role Coppelia in the ballet of the same name, Coppelia. It gives her great joy to share her love of ballet now with her students at Ballet Petit.
During her dance career, Sarah attended a host of summer intensive programs at Contra Costa Ballet, Lines Ballet, and the Bartholin International Ballet Seminar. At Lines, Sarah performed a solo in Alonso King’s Rite of Spring. At the Bartholin Program at the Royal Danish Ballet, Sarah had the honor of performing a variation from August Bournonville’s La Ventana. The following year, she was awarded a full scholarship to attend the program the following summer.
Sarah recently graduated from UC Irvine with a BA in both Biological Sciences and Dance. One of the many wonderful opportunities she was able to participate in at UCI’s dance program was performing excerpts from William Forsythe's Artifact Suite.
Amy Bouris
Amy began her dance training at the young age of three. By 10, Amy was spending most of her free time in the
ballet studio. She studied under Vivi and Fleming Flindt, and Madame Nathalie Krassovska at the Dallas Ballet
Academy, and was soon accepted to San Francisco Ballet's summer program. She continued her ballet
training at the San Francisco Ballet for the next six years.
After graduating from the program at SFB, Amy traveled around the country with various dance companies
including State Ballet of Missouri, Ballet El Paso, and Viva El Paso. She found herself back in the Bay Area
when she accepted a job with the Oakland Ballet Company in 1994.
While at the Oakland Ballet, Amy performed in worldrenowned ballets including Antony Tudor's Lilac Garden,
The Green Table, Petrouchka, Les Sylphides, and Bronislava Nijinska's Les Biches and Les Noces. She
performed leading roles in The Nutcracker (including Sugarplum Fairy, Snow and Rose Queens, and Marie),
Mary in Ronn Guidi's The Secret Garden, Laurie in Eugene Loring's Tenderland, and George Balanchine's
Hand of Fate pas de deux.
Amy has taught ballet to children and adults for the last 14 years at various Bay Area dance schools including
California Academy of Performing Arts, Berkeley Ballet Theater, Menlo Park Academy of Dance, and The
Metronome Ballroom in San Francisco.
Amy graduated from University of California at Berkeley in 2003 and received her elementary teaching credential
from Cal State East Bay in 2004. She has taught elementary school in grades 3-5. Most importantly, Amy
is the mother of two boys ages 2 and 7.
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